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The first time I visited Britain, it was a business trip and I was ecstatic with the opportunity. As a kid, I adored Princess Diana and woke up in the pre-dawn hours to turn on the television to watch her marry Prince Charles. During the ’80s I was obsessed with the second British invasion – Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, and Wham! – and dreamt of visiting Britain.
Today, my soul longs for a trip across the pond to reconnect with friends and explore the English countryside. And thanks to COVID-19, you and I aren’t going anywhere for quite awhile. But, we’ve been finding ways to feed our adventurous souls.
Tune the Telly to BritBox
If you long for a visit to Britain, tune the telly to BritBox. It’s a digital paid subscription service like Netflix or Amazon Prime. BritBox offers the largest collection of British television in the United States and Canada.
Journey through the landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, explore the history of the Scottish Highlands, and venture through Europe. The service is full of entertainment including plenty of travel experiences. Here’s a small sampling of travel-related programs you’ll find on BritBox.
Documentaries and Lifestyle:
- For backpackers and travelers of the great outdoors, explore a selection of Britain’s breathtakingly beautiful landscapes in Caroline Quentin’s Great National Parks
- Visit beautiful gardens across the United Kingdom and pick up a horticulture tip or two in Gardeners’ World. Or, explore the beauty of UK wildlife and experience seasons without having to bundle up by watching Autumnwatch, Winterwatch and Springwatch
- Take an excursion with All Aboard! for an uninterrupted travel experience down historic waterways and iconic landscapes in the UK. This includes a sleigh ride in the Arctic
- Go inside world famous landmarks and get a behind the scenes look at how visionaries keep structures including the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal intact in Monumental Challenge
- Pick up special guests including Emma Thompson on a tour through Italy visiting famous Shakespeare sites by watching Shakespeare in Italy
- Head out on a 5,000-mile gastronomic road trip across Europe by motorcycle in Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation.
From Drama to Comedy:
- Join James Corden and Ruth Jones in Essex and Wales and be prepared to laugh along with the Gavin & Stacey crew
- Enjoy stunning, panoramic views of Scotland as a detective (Douglas Henshall) uncovers deadly secrets in Shetland
- Sit back and soak in the sun on a Mediterranean island as mismatched cops solve crime on The Mallorca Files
- Missing paradise, take a trip to the beaches of Guadeloupe with Death in Paradise.
- And, join the ultimate time traveler for fascinating adventures with the Classic Dr. Who collection.
No Passport Required!
You don’t need a passport for this virtual trip. Best of all, you don’t need to get dressed up for the occasion. On second thought, wearing a ravishing fascinator and dressed to the nines makes an evening in more fun. Add in some delicious English bites and you have the perfect evening.
What to Serve for a British-themed Night
If you’re looking for ideas on what to serve during your British-themed night, here are a couple of suggestions that are pretty easy to make. First, put the kettle on (boil water on the stovetop) so you have hot water to steep tea.
Scotch Eggs
The first item I’m recommending you make for a British-themed night are Scotch eggs! They are delicious and relatively easy to make. Best of all, you do not need to fry them! I found a tasty baked Scotch eggs on the Betty Crocker website. The ingredients are simple, peeled hard-boiled eggs, ground pork sausage, dried minced onion, flour, panko crumbs, salt, and a beaten egg.
Find Betty Crocker’s Baked Scotch Eggs recipe here.
Classic Cranachan
The second item is the Scottish dessert called cranachan and it is super easy! It contains cream, porridge oats (I used steel-cut oats), whiskey, raspberries, honey, and mint leaves. I made it for the first time over the weekend and made it again to bring as a dish at a friend’s house. Leave the whiskey out and enjoy it for breakfast.
Find the recipe for Classic Cranachan on the BBC Food website here.
Cheerio!
